PPP under fire
December 12, 2007
Photo: PPP leader Samak Sundaravej talks to
vendors at a Bangkok market. PAWAT LAOPAISARNTAKSIN As you read today's story, keep in mind the warning we read yesterday from Burin Kantabutra in his letter to Postbag, the Bangkok Post letters to the editor column:
"We must not only have an election; it must be seen to be credible and represent the will of we, the people. This cannot be done if the PPP is dissolved based on what is perceived as flimsy evidence, or an incomprehensible ruling.
As in a court, the defendant must be judged guilty beyond reasonable doubt if he is to be punished. Let justice not only be done, let it be seen to be done."
There is no question that many people watching the current election campaign believe the PPP, as well as the banned executives of the now-defunct TRT party, are being treated unfairly by the authorities. Is that a reasonable perception? Consider the current charges being considered against the PP. Do they seem serious enough to have the party dissolved? In the coming days, watch carefully to see if the party is given an adquate chance to respond to the charges and what information its representatives give in their defence. They may have difficulty explaining away the VCD, however. If you haven't seen it, you can see a clip here.
credible – able to be trusted or believed ที่น่าเชื่อถือ
will – what someone wants to happen เจตจำนงค์ ความตั้งใจ
dissolved – officially ended ยุบพรรค ยุติ
perceived – understood in a particular way เป็นที่เข้าใจว่า
flimsy – not very reliable or not very easy to believe; very weak (หลักฐาน) ที่อ่อน ไม่ชัดเจน
incomprehensible – very difficult or impossible to understand ไม่สามารถเข้าใจได้
ruling – a decision by a court of law การพิจารณาคดี
defendant – someone who has been accused of a crime and is on trial จำเลย
guilty – someone who has committed a crime มีความผิด
justice – the legal process of fairly judging and punishing people ความยุติธรรม
campaign – a series of planned activities to achieve a particular result, in this case, winning an election การหาเสียงเลือกตั้ง
banned – officially not allowed to do something ที่ถูกห้าม
PPP faces criminal action
EC’s move could lead to dissolution of partyMONGKOL BANGPRAPA
The Election
Commission’s decision yesterday to take criminal action
against the People Power party (PPP) could lead to the end of the party
tipped by pollsters to win the
Dec 23 general election. The EC decided to file a complaint through national police chief Pol Gen Seripisuth Temiyavej, accusing the PPP of forging a signature on a membership application for Puea Pandin deputy leader Sitthichai Kwosurat, EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said.
If found guilty, either party leader Samak Sundaravej or party registrar Saman Lertwongrat will be punished under the criminal code.
However, the severest punishment is possible if the EC can prove that the party, not individual executive members, also acknowledged the alleged forgery.
That would lead to the party’s dissolution for violating the Political Party Act, said EC secretary-general Suthiphon Theeveechaiyagarn.
The EC has also set up a committee to find out whether the case involves wrongdoing by individuals or the party.
The embattled PPP is facing two more cases involving allegedly classified documents of the Council for National Security (CNS) and the distribution of controversial VCDs with a recording of a speech by ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The two cases, which could also bring the PPP to its downfall, will be tabled before an EC meeting today.
Mr Sitthichai filed a complaint with the EC against the PPP over the allegedly forged signature. His move came after the Supreme Court on Dec 4 cleared him of a charge of membership of two parties, allowing him to run on the Puea Pandin party list for Zone 4. The EC earlier disqualified Mr Sitthichai for registering as a member of both Puea Pandin and the PPP.
However, Mr Saman was confident in the PPP’s defence against the charge, saying it had evidence to prove its innocence. He questioned the motive behind Mr Sitthichai’s move to file the complaint with the EC at this time.
tipped – expected to get something or to be successful บอกเป็นนัยๆ
pollsters – people who prepare and carry out polls ผู้ทำการสำรวจความคิดเห็น (คนที่ทำโพลล์)
forging – illegally copying something with the intention of cheating people (the noun form is forgery) ปลอมแปลงเอกาสาร
signature – a person’s name written by that person ลายเซ็นต์
registrar – someone whose job is to keep official records เจ้าหน้าที่ทะเบียน นายทะเบียน
severest punishment – strongest punishment, in the case, dissolving the PPP โทษรุนแรง
acknowledged – accepted or admitted that something is true รับรู้
alleged – claimed to be true even thought this has not yet been proven ที่ถูกกล่าวหา
embattled – experiencing a lot of problems ที่กำลังประสพปัญหา
classified – officially secret and allowed to be known by only a few people เอกสารลับ
controversial – causing strong disagreement ที่เป็นที่ถกเถียงอยู่
ousted – forced from a position of power ที่ถูกยึดอำนาจ หรือขับออกจากตำแหน่ง
table – to suggest formally in a meeting that something should be discussed ยื่นยัตติ
disqualified – not allowed to do or get something because of having done something wrong ทำให้หมดคุณสมบัติ
innocence – the state of not being guilty of a crime บริสุทธิ์
motive – a reason for doing something เหตุจูงใจ
The disqualified seats under the proportional representation system will be left vacant, without the need to call by-elections to seek replacements.
By-elections will be called to elect members to replace disqualified MPs under the constituency system.
PPP member Pol Capt Chalerm Yubamrung shrugged off the threat, saying ‘‘the more talk about the PPP’s dissolution, the more votes we’ll get’’.
Meanwhile, Veera Somkhamkid of the People’s Network against Corruption handed in a letter calling on the EC to take action against the PPP for allegedly distributing the VCDs featuring Mr Thaksin. Two VCDs were given as evidence.
Mr Apichart, the EC chairman, said the poll agency will get tough with Prasaeng Mongkolsiri, a PPP candidate for Uthai Thani who insisted on using pictures and recorded voices of Mr Thaksin in his election campaign.
potential – possible น่าจะเป็นไปได้
in the event – if; used for saying what will happen in a particular situation ถ้าหาก
proportional representation (party list) system - a system that gives each party in an election a number of seats in relation to the number of votes its candidates receive ระบบสัดส่วน, ระบบปาร์ตี้ลิสต์
vacant – empty ว่างลง
replacements – people who take the place or job of another person บุคคลที่มาดำรงตำแหน่งแทน
constituency – a district that elects its own representative to parliament เขตเลือกตั้ง
shrugged off – treated as being unimportant ไม่แยแส